The point isn’t to just send out a regular brand email with a couple quick updates, but to really develop a full plan for growing your customer database, establishing your name and hopefully providing some value or intrigue for your audience.

Email communication is tricky. On the one hand, it’s easy: It’s an email! It’s inexpensive and can hit all of your audience at once. But on the other hand, there is so much email these days you have to stand out from the crowd and also set up your lists the right way so as to stay within the bounds of the law and in the good graces of your customers. OK, so it’s mostly not easy, at least if you are doing it right. That’s where an organization like The Beer and Wine Zone comes into play.

The Beer and Wine Zone assists in building audiences for, you guessed it, breweries and wineries. The Beer and Wine Zone team has developed email lists and Facebook and Twitter followings that it can share and cross market with your brewery. As stated on the company’s website:

“We have strong, loyal, fully opted in email lists that want to hear about offers, contests, events, products and coupons. Our Facebook Pages are very active and we have over 10,000 likes, and this engaged group is growing daily. We are continuing to build out our Twitter presence, all in an effort to support your marketing initiatives.”

The point isn’t to just send out a regular brand email with a couple quick updates, but to really develop a full plan for growing your customer database, establishing your name and hopefully providing some value or intrigue for your audience. The Beer and Wine team assists in sending out a variety of products, promotions and messages by email, such as new product releases, white papers, seminars, webinars, contests, catalogues, membership privileges, gift certificates, loyalty points, coupons, limited time offers, free trials and discounts to maintain and build your lists.

The contest option is interesting — essentially launching a contest so that participants are entered, encouraged to share with their friends and are eligible to win prizes while you are able to grow your opted-in marketing database. As a bonus, the prizes can also be a good way to clear inventory.

“Nothing creates waves like an opportunity to win, especially if the prize is right for the target,” the company noted on its site. “Contest marketing is a great opportunity to combine products and elevate brands through association.”